§ 96. Mr. Browneasked the Minister of National Insurance whether she will make an obligatory fuel grant of 2s. 6d. per week, during six winter months, in cases where one or two old people, without other resources, are living alone and drawing National Assistance; and what would be the approximate annual cost of such a grant.
Mr. B. TaylorIt has for some years been the practice for regulations governing assistance to provide for uniform rates throughout the year and the current regulations, approved last May, contain 143W no provision which would enable a general issue of fuel grants during winter. I do not think it would be practicable to limit a grant of this kind to old people as the hon. Member suggests, but if it were so limited the cost would be about £1½ million a year.